"What was so special about the Yinyang Town trial that she felt it shouldn't be submitted directly to the database?" Ling Jun asked suspiciously. "Is she planning to let the Fu family quietly pocket it?"
Fu Qingyang picked up his knife and fork, resuming his breakfast. "Even if that were the case, there would be nothing wrong with it."
Aside from being a member of the Five Elements Alliance, Guan Ya was a direct descendant of the Fu family. Giving her own family priority whenever something good came along was entirely reasonable in terms of both affection and duty.
Fu Qingyang also suspected his cousin had probably discovered something out of the ordinary in Yinyang Town.
The two continued eating, chatting casually.
"When are you getting the hell back to the capital?"
"I'll probably stay for six months to a year. Going back means having to deal with girlfriends, and it's far too annoying."
"In six months to a year, you'll have an annoying number of girlfriends in Songhai, too."
"Actually, they're not all girlfriends. I just like being around women—chatting about romance, talking about life, handing out little gifts here and there. It's platonic companionship, but they always convince themselves they're my girlfriends. Alas."
"Like father, like son!" Fu Qingyang sneered.
"You can insult my old man all you want, but don't you dare insult me," Ling Jun said indignantly. "That man has kids purely to cultivate Spirit Realm walkers. I'm different. What I seek is romantic connection, the blending of souls. And when emotion occasionally becomes uncontrollable, I crave a fusion of flesh as well."
Just then, the bunny girl returned carrying a laptop, setting it down cautiously beside Fu Qingyang.
He unlocked the screen, opened his email, and downloaded the message Guan Ya had sent.
A few minutes later, Ling Jun watched with wide eyes as the relaxed Fu Qingyang quietly straightened his spine. His detached expression grew solemn, and his calm gaze suddenly turned sharp.
This was a rare sight on Fu Qingyang. From what Ling Jun knew of him, this reaction meant either an earth-shattering event had occurred or something had genuinely stunned him.
Otherwise, Poker Face wouldn't react like this.
"What does the report say?" Ling Jun asked.
"Guan Ya says Yinyang Town has hidden storylines. Teams of varying strength follow different routes. Last night, they experienced the highest-difficulty route—and that particular route has never been cleared before."
"That's it?"
"The difficulty of that storyline was likely close to an S-rank trial."
"I had no idea Yinyang Town concealed such deep plotlines. But with millions of Spirit Realm trials out there, the unpioneered ones are countless. That's still nothing to keep secret."
Fu Qingyang glanced at him and said flatly, "The enemy they encountered was Li Xianzong."
Ling Jun spat out his mouthful of milk with a loud splurt.
Fu Qingyang, a fastidious germaphobe, frowned.
Wiping his mouth with a swipe of his hand, Ling Jun pressed, "Was there a top player in the orthodox faction?"
Fu Qingyang shook his head. "Yuanshi slaughtered Li Xianzong."
Ling Jun froze for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
"The kid's rate of growth is making my scalp tingle. Even when we were younger, we were only around this level, right? Give him another year or two, and won't he be standing shoulder to shoulder with us? Then the Four Young Masters of the Official Faction will become five."
He quickly brightened up. "Ever since the evil faction's trial began, the little bastards at the Transcendent stage have been taking beatings non-stop. This finally lets us vent some rage! Haha, I can just imagine the priceless looks on the faces of the evil faction walkers when they hear the news.
"Still, Elder Sun is definitely going to be unhappy again. Elder Sun is losing his mar—*cough*, *cough*, I'm not using that meme anymore."
Fu Qingyang cast him a puzzled look. "Hm?"
Ling Jun sighed.
"Didn't Elder Sun emerge from a Spirit Realm a while back? He browsed the forums for a bit and suddenly lamented that the younger generation of the Taiyi Sect had grown lazy in their cultivation. So he summoned Yuan Ting to the capital to drill him personally. A few days ago, he even posted a video of the special training on the Taiyi Sect's official site. Instantly, nobody dared use that meme ever again."
"Let us hope so," Fu Qingyang replied calmly.
He picked up the laptop and left the dining room.
In her report, Guan Ya had described Yuanshi Tianzun's performance in the trial in detail, including every nuance, and specifically mentioned the existence of a hidden item.
She hadn't provided detailed specs on the item, but she clearly stated that Yuanshi Tianzun had relied on it to turn the tables and seize victory.
What Fu Qingyang needed to do now was "polish" the report—making certain edits to excise any trace of the hidden item while preserving the core facts of Yuanshi Tianzun leading the team to clear the trial and slaying Li Xianzong.
A trial completion report was equivalent to a walkthrough guide. Once uploaded to the database, official walkers with sufficient clearance could access it—including any potential Dark Night Rose moles and bad apples colluding with evil professions.
Guan Ya had bypassed Li Dongze to deliver the report straight to him so he could make the call. This was precisely what she had intended.
***
Sanzhuang Province, Pangxie City.
On the sixteenth floor of an upscale residential complex in the city center, on a spacious balcony, Queen sat on a plush armchair. Her features were striking and bold, a pair of silver hoop earrings dangling from her lobes. Before her stood a small glass table bearing a sleek notebook computer.
She wore dark sunglasses. The contrast between her fair skin, the black shades, and her lipstick-coated lips radiated the captivating aura of an alluring, mature woman.
At that moment, she was looking down to reply to Guan Ya's message:
*Understood. When I write the report, I won't include that robe.*
Queen put down her phone and resumed typing away on her keyboard.
Something like a mission report could wait until she had spare time. Surfing the web took priority.
*...After entering Yinyang Town, I discovered our team actually included two official colleagues! You'll never guess who they were. That's right—Yuanshi Tianzun and Guan Ya from the Songhai Branch! The big celebrity Yuanshi Tianzun in the flesh! First, let me share my first impression of him: mm, a very handsome little puppy—*
Queen deleted "little puppy" and retyped:
*A very handsome young man who looked just over twenty, clean-cut and way better-looking than I imagined. Our first trial was 'The Cursed Cat'... I won't go into the details, as those belong in the report. All I can tell you is that it was terrifyingly perilous. It was thanks to Yuanshi Tianzun that we managed to survive.
*The second trial featured a widow, supposedly very wild. One of our teammates was nearly seduced by her and almost did the deed. Once again, it was thanks to Yuanshi Tianzun that the whole team made it out without a scratch.
*Now for the main event—sit tight, everyone, here comes the climax! The third trial was a joint boss battle between both factions. You will never guess who the captain of the evil faction was—Li Xianzong!
*Talk about a twist of fate! Who would have thought those two would cross paths inside a trial? If Li Xianzong were a woman, I'd swear they shared some twisted, fated entanglement.
*This battle was excruciatingly brutal. Li Xianzong truly lives up to his reputation as a top-ranking Transcendent on the wanted list; I've never faced such a ferocious evil profession. Towards the end, due to certain reasons I can't disclose, the enemy became unbeatable, while our side suffered heavy casualties and had no choice but to flee.
*I was in absolute despair at the time, fully prepared to die in the trial. But, BUT, I have to say, Yuanshi Tianzun truly lives up to his reputation as a genius who cleared two S-rank trials! His capabilities, his intellect, and his methods go far beyond anything you could ever imagine.
*He led us to a stunning turnaround, won the faction showdown, and killed Li Xianzong with his own hands. Aahhhh, this OP loves him to death!!*
After finishing the post, Queen corrected a few typos and clicked submit.
Over the next while, she leaned back lazily on the couch, sipping her coffee in unhurried indulgence.
Meanwhile, the computer pinged and chimed without pause. At its peak, several replies flooded in within a single second.
*Haha, just as I expected—exploding with popularity! My post will definitely get pinned. In another two weeks, I'll have enough forum points to apply for moderator!* Queen thought happily.
By the time she finished her coffee at a leisurely pace, half an hour had passed.
Only then did she set down her cup and refresh the thread to check the replies. The forum was in an absolute uproar.
The thread had already been highlighted in red and pinned to the top by an administrator.
[Lairifangzhang: Fake, right? OP, isn't chasing clout and baiting replies like this going a bit too far? You could at least make up something believable—like Li Xianzong ambushing Yuanshi Tianzun again, only for the witty Yuanshi Tianzun to escape doom once more.]
[Jiang Yang: OP is probably a fan of Yuanshi Tianzun, writing an essay to salvage her idol's image while boosting morale for our official colleagues, eh?]
[Betel Nut Plus Cigarettes Gives Boundless Power: Seriously, this is way too exaggerated. From the first trial to the third, it was all Yuanshi Tianzun's credit? So the rest of you teammates were just dead weight? Why have I never run into such an overpowered team captain? Well, I suppose someone who cleared two S-ranks back-to-back is rarer than a national treasure, so it's normal that I've never met one. Just a reasonable doubt, don't flame me if you disagree.]
The next dozen replies all questioned the authenticity of the post.
It wasn't until more people noticed the thread and joined the discussion that several forum members familiar with Queen began replying:
[George the Pig: First of all, Queen isn't a fan of Yuanshi Tianzun. She doesn't even fangirl over the Four Young Masters, let alone him. Besides, knowing her, she wouldn't write this kind of essay just to deceive people for clout. But having said that, if this post is real, I'm dropping everything today just to eat popcorn online.]
[Affectionate Jenny: I remember Queen posted last week saying her trial was coming up soon. Personally, I think she's telling the truth. Holy crap, this is massive news! We're in for a good show. Yuanshi Tianzun is a beast!!!]
[I Have an Affliction: Perhaps my question shouldn't be asked right now, but I still want to know: when you said seduced by the widow and almost did the deed, was that golden needle piercing the peach blossom? Was the widow pretty? Juicy? Don't misunderstand, everyone—my own trial is coming up soon, and I'm just conducting academic research.]
The two opposing camps argued incessantly, driving the thread's popularity to a fever pitch. Then, Spirit Realm walkers from the Songhai Branch began stepping into the fray one after another.
[Li Dongze: Good heavens! There were no other powerhouses on your team? Did Yuanshi really take down Li Xianzong? Oh, my God! My God! I'm so excited I want to bash your dog head in with a club!]
[Wangfei: If I remember correctly, isn't this guy Yuanshi Tianzun's superior? What does he mean? He didn't know yet? That makes this post look even more suspect.]
[Bailong: I don't know whether the post is real or not, but I know Yuanshi was definitely scheduled to enter a trial recently—a multiplayer trial at that. We were just discussing it yesterday.]
[Qingteng: Queen isn't from Songhai; she had no way of knowing Yuanshi was due for a trial soon. The post is most likely real—there's no way it's such a coincidence. How on earth did he pull it off? Simply astonishing. Truly unbelievable.]
[Quanwang: Dammit! I bet five million that Yuanshi and Li Xianzong would fight to a draw! I've lost everything!]
With Songhai Branch colleagues chiming in, the voices of doubt died down almost instantly. People discussed heatedly while refreshing the database's strategy guides on their computers.
Yinyang Town was a Transcendent-stage trial, searchable by any official walker at that level. Even if their clearance wasn't high enough to read the report, searching for its entry was completely open.
By midday, a forum administrator posted a thread in person:
#Yuanshi Tianzun and Li Xianzong Clashed in Yinyang Town; Li Xianzong Slain#
The official forum was rocked to its core.
***
Huayu Hotel.
Xie Lingxi refreshed the official forum in mounting excitement. She had already been sitting in front of the screen all morning.
Although she couldn't register an account, leave comments, or make posts because she wasn't an official member, simply browsing the threads and discussions about Brother Yuanshi filled her with thrill and satisfaction.
*As expected of the man I admire! He avenged himself so quickly! I knew it—with Brother Yuanshi's potential, how could he possibly fall to Li Xianzong...* Xie Lingxi scrolled her mouse wheel in pure contentment, soaking in the deluge of discussions.
Before today, those official Spirit Realm walkers had been offering their lofty critiques, analyzing the gap between Brother Yuanshi and Li Xianzong with that patronizing, disappointed tone.
*Hmph! Now they're shamelessly calling him 'Lord Tianzun' left and right!*
*Brother Yuanshi's popularity is rising fast. The evil organizations will definitely raise the bounty on him... That 'Please Call Me Queen' seems to be from our Sanzhuang Province, going on about how she loves Yuanshi Tianzun to death. How annoying...*
Just then, her female assistant came over holding a phone, speaking in a low voice: "Miss, the Clan Head wants to speak with you."
Without looking away from the screen, Xie Lingxi said flatly, "Tell him that thanks to his teachings, I've already severed all ties with Yuanshi Tianzun."
"What?!" A middle-aged man's furious voice boomed through the speaker. "Lingxi! How could you be so foolish?!"
"Dad, wasn't that what you wanted?"
"I..." The man choked, then his tone softened. "Can it be salvaged?"
"I can try, but..." Xie Lingxi sighed. "Dad, you'll have to bleed quite a bit. Get two items and ten million in cash ready."
"..."
***
Shijing Farm Resort.
Brilliant headlights pierced the night as a white sedan pulled up outside the farm resort.
The glamorous Auntie Xiao Yuan switched off the ignition, opened the door, and stepped out, glancing at the brightly lit resort hotel in the darkness.
Today, she wore light-colored jeans, a black tank top, and a women's windbreaker jacket. Her long legs, rounded hips, slender waist, and ample bosom were accentuated to perfection, highlighting her mature and alluring figure.
Shijing Farm Resort was another black market gathering spot for evil professions that she was familiar with.
Not long ago, she had learned that the black market Tian Lingling frequented had been completely wiped out. Mangled corpses covered the ground, left rotting without anyone tending to them.
In the end, evil professionals who frequented the underground bar discovered the scene and called the Public Security Bureau before the official authorities arrived to clean up the mess.
After passing through a rigorous security check, Auntie Xiao Yuan entered the resort. Crossing the lounge packed with drinkers, beneath a cascade of admiring gazes, she made her way to the backyard and met the owner of the place.
The owner was a plainly dressed village woman with silver threads woven through her black hair, well into her forties.
She was currently sitting beside a well in the courtyard, making dried beancurd sheets.
"Ah, Xiao Yuan."
The middle-aged woman looked up, then resumed her work. "You rarely visit me. What have you been up to these past few years?"
The woman was a member of the Spirit Society and had once been Xiao Yuan's guide. She had treated Xiao Yuan quite well, but because their philosophies differed, Xiao Yuan had chosen not to join the Spirit Society.
Feeling an enduring sense of guilt toward her former mentor, she seldom came to see her.
"Working at a hotel," Xiao Yuan said flatly. "Sister Yan, I'm here to buy some intelligence."
The middle-aged woman didn't reply, continuing to make the beancurd sheets.
Xiao Yuan continued, "I want intelligence on Li Xianzong—his recent plans, where he's hiding, everything. The more detailed, the better."
She was collecting intelligence on Li Xianzong to sell to Yuanshi Tianzun. That brat still owed her money.
Before that debt was settled, he couldn't go and get harvested by Li Xianzong.
"No need," the woman said without looking up.
"What do you mean?" Xiao Yuan frowned.
"Li Xianzong was killed in a trial," the woman replied.
*What?* The news caught Xiao Yuan completely off guard. Although a Spirit Realm walker dying in a trial was as natural as a general falling on the battlefield, hearing it now felt bizarre and absurd.
*Such a powerful genius died just like that? Yuanshi Tianzun's luck is a bit too good, isn't it?*
Xiao Yuan pondered for a moment. "Did the news come from the Soldier Master Sect?"
"No, from the Five Elements Alliance."
"Hm?"
The middle-aged woman finally lifted her head, shook the water from her hands, and said solemnly, "It's on the Five Elements Alliance forum. Yuanshi Tianzun and Li Xianzong entered the same trial, and the Soldier Master Sect's genius was slaughtered."
Xiao Yuan froze.
The middle-aged woman continued at an unhurried pace:
"Yuanshi Tianzun's bounty has moved up again—ranked fourth now, with an extremely handsome reward. If you're short on cash, you could try hunting him down. Songhai and Jinshan City aren't far apart.
"Alas, with the official faction producing such a genius, many people can't sleep at night. Everyone is terrified of another Fu Qingyang emerging."
Having said that, she scrutinized the stunned Xiao Yuan, her brow furrowing slightly. "What's wrong?"
*That brat...* Xiao Yuan snapped back to her senses, drew a deep breath, and brushed it off casually. "Understood. If I get the chance, I'll hunt Yuanshi down."
***
Inside the bedroom.
Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes. The sun was slanting toward the west, casting a blood-red glow across the evening sky.
The time was half past six in the evening.
He opened his eyes brimming with vigor, feeling strength coursing through every fiber of his being. He felt ready to punch Asura, trample the Marshal, and shout the Taiyi Sect Master into retreat—his condition had never been better.
Slipping on his slippers, he walked into the living room. From the kitchen came the sounds of his grandmother stir-frying dinner.
"Grandma, I'm starving! Hurry it up!" Zhang Yuanqing hollered.
His grandmother paid him no mind whatsoever.
Zhang Yuanqing greeted his grandfather and headed back to his bedroom.
He picked up his phone, switched off airplane mode, and browsed through his unread messages.
Guan Ya had texted him around noon, letting him know that she had finished writing the guide and reminding him to get plenty of rest.
Zhang Yuanqing exited the messaging app and impatiently opened the official forum. Seeing thread after thread singing his praises, his mood soared instantly. A smirk curled on his lips as he lost himself in the posts, thirty minutes flying by before he knew it.
*Queen is pretty tactful, actively helping me flex in public... Humans truly need to show off. Flexing before others really dispels gloom...*
After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his bedroom. Sitting at his desk, he retrieved Yinyang Sanren's Dao Cultivation Records from his inventory.
A figure who had lived in the same era as Lady Sandao—who knew what secrets might be recorded in his "notes"?
Perhaps it could unravel the mysteries of the Spirit Realm, even if only a fraction.
Zhang Yuanqing carefully opened the yellowed, brittle cover.
Chapter 140